Movielogr

Rating: 6.5 stars

Tags

G-Fest Japan future earth military factory farming insects giant animal soldiers short film student film

All movies seen on 07/13/2019

Related Events

• G-FEST XXVI

View on: TMDb

Yagon the Water Monster (2019)

Directed by Koyo Sugita

Science Fiction | Horror | Short

Overview

In the near future after state-owned farms produce genetically modified crops, a giant mutated insectoid creature is discovered living in the wetlands of Japan. After several civilians are killed, the military steps in to end the creature’s reign of terror. This is a student film project from Musashino Art University.

Length 44 minutes

Actors

Viewing History (seen 2 times)

Viewing Notes

This was a nice surprise: a student film that Avery Guerro discovered doing a random search online (Avery is the producer for THE GREAT BUDDHA ARRIVAL). He got the file from the director Koyo Sugita, a student at Musashino Art University in Tokyo. So he gave it to Jeff Horne to program for the film festival at G-Fest (Jeff told me all of this then I later spoke with Avery to confirm).

Anyways, I was very curious b/c this feels like a student film (story, young actors, setting, etc.). But I really like what she created even if it’s not entirely perfect. On a micro-budget she made a very fun film that addresses many current issues like government control, genetically modified food, and toxins / chemicals used in farming (there’s a big exposition dump between the first & third acts that really hits you over the head w/this stuff).

The fun stuff is in the first act w/the creature then the scientists trying to figure out what’s going on (great nod to Godzilla 1954 Dr. Serizawa). The third act is pure enjoyment with hilarious music queues (Beethoven!) and homages (ALIEN) and stop motion insect monster action.

No, this is not a “great” movie by any definition but it’s damn entertaining and inspiring. Just imagining a bunch of students working together to make this and my heart swells. This is the kind of shit that if I had been exposed to in college I may have changed directions and gone into filmmaking.

Koyo posted the entire film to YouTube after G-Fest was over. I will watch it again this week (already seen it twice at G-Fest).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWucg0X-iDg

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